Anaheim panel calls for changes in elections

ANAHEIM A citizens group unanimously agreed Thursday night that voters should be asked whether Anaheim should be carved into City Council districts to ensure better representation of minority communities.

The Citizens Advisory Committee on Elections and Community Involvement also agreed that the council should be expanded to six or eight members from five with an at-large mayor.

The recommendations will be presented May 31 to the City Council. The council could ultimately decide whether to put any of the proposed changes on a citywide ballot.

The committee was formed after an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed last June, which alleges that the city's longstanding system of five at-large council members violates the state's Voting Rights Act. An Orange County Superior Court judge is expected to rule in July. Records show that the city has spent more than $400,000 in legal fees fighting the lawsuit and an additional $35,000 to operate the citizens commission.

About 100 people attended the panel's final meeting, the majority of whom supported council districts and an expanded council.

“Because I'm not leaving Anaheim, because my family is not leaving Anaheim, I want to be part of this change,” Marisol Ramirez of Anaheim told the committee. “For me, district elections would make a big difference in the way my future kids will live their lives, and it would open doors to so many things I want to do here.”

Ron Bengochea of Anaheim was one of the few opponents of creating council districts, telling the committee that “there's no quick fix” for increasing voter participation and ensuring that minorities are fairly represented.

“I said many times that it doesn't matter where you live, it doesn't matter the color of your skin and it doesn't matter the number of districts,” Bengochea said.

Sparks flew for much of the night as committee member Sandy Day spent a bulk of the meeting questioning several items recommended in a draft report that was placed before the panel. In some cases, she asked for a small tweak to wording, clearly drawing frustration from fellow committee members.

“It doesn't matter to me, fine,” committee member Anthony Armas said in a weary tone when the group was asked to vote on one of the items.

A portion of the meeting was spent on debating whether to include a third option in creating a “hybrid model” of at-large and district elections. The idea, mocked by several jeering audience members, was eventually dropped.

The committee also agreed that the city should work with community leaders to boost voter registration, hold more neighborhood council meetings and change the time that council meetings are held to 6:30 p.m. from 5 p.m.

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